"it's your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you." rumi

“World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.”

DALAI LAMA XIV

Recovery from alcoholism is often referred to around our meeting tables as an “inside job”. Every time I hear this my mind immediately goes to the questioning of self, “how is my inside world?”

It would be absolutely hypocritical to allow others to think that my inner being is always peaceful. It would be fatal to my sobriety to convince myself that all is well inside at all times. I am human, the world is flawed, God is within and the three are involved in a battle for my soul. It’s truly that simple. I no longer have the idealism of a younger man who is on a crusade to change the world. The crusade now is for soul to emerge victorious over ego and the world.

Escaping the ravages of alcoholism and living in the beauty of recovery has allowed my Higher Power whom I call Lord and Savior to work the miracle of saving grace, a grace that is unmerited and undeserved. The anger is gone, the self-loathing is gone, the fear of life is gone. That has been replaced by introspection, meditation, and reflection. Through these disciplines, I believe, compassion is initiated. When I experience the peace through soul searching and self forgiveness, as my HP has forgiven me, then I am more able to regard my brothers and sisters with active compassion.